New York ? Finally, a class where clowning around is encouraged.

Hundreds of wannabe funnymen and funnywomen assembled Saturday for a one-hour primer on the do’s and don’ts of clowning.

All will show off their newly acquired skills – Groucho impressions, bizarre walks, strange dance steps – at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28.

“You’ve actually got to take this seriously,” said Dennis Keough, 60, of Garden City.

“You’ve got to take on the persona of a clown, try to do things like a clown,” he said.

Keough attended the first of five hour-long sessions, a neophyte learning at the oversized shoes of a master: Todd Robbins, one of three “teaching clowns.”

The students assembled in a windowless 16th-floor room festooned with multicolored balloons, going through their paces above Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

Clown instructor Hilary Chaplain, second from left, demonstrates how to dance for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade clown volunteers. Groucho impressions, bizarre walks and strange dance steps were among strategies Chaplain and her assistants demonstrated to the hundreds of attendees at Saturday's workshop.

After encouraging one group to move around like a school of fish, Robbins told them, “We’re showing you this so you won’t flounder!”

Ba-dum-dum. But seriously, folks – what should a clown do?

Dress comfortably. Ignore hecklers. And don’t forget to use the restroom before zipping up.

And the list of clown no-nos?

No clowns smoking cigarettes. Or clowns sipping coffee. Or clowns chewing gum.